Will (Maria Boyd novel)

"Will" is a 2007 debut novel from Maria Boyd. The novel is aimed at young adults and tells the story of the titular character, Will Armstrong who after the tragic death of his father begins to play up at school, culminating in him dropping his pants and mooning a girls school bus after being dared to by friends. As punishment for his crime Will is forced to help out in the high school musical, "The Boyfriend", through out the novel Will learns many lessons about life, love and doing what is right.

Will is in trouble and everyone’s worried. They reckon it’s because of whathappened six months ago. He doesn’t know what they’re on about.The latest incident – mooning the girls’ school bus – lands him in the deputyprincipal’s office. He could be suspended or expelled, but instead Will’sconcerned English teacher, Mr Andrews, makes a suggestion that he thinks willsolve the problem. Will is to help out with the school musical, playing guitar inthe band.For Will, the new punishment is ten thousand times worse than expulsion. Willdoesn’t know anyone in Year 11 who voluntarily takes part in school musicals,and even the prospect of meeting girls from Lakeside Girls’ isn’t enough tomake it worthwhile. The musical is definitely just for band geeks and try-hards.At the first audition and rehearsal, Will fears are confirmed. But he’s about tolearn that stereotypes aren’t always what they seem. Year seven tromboneplayinggeeks can be wiser than their years, hot girls like Elizabeth aren’t just inthe musical to pretend they’re stars on Australian Idol, and rugby-playing jockslike the new guy, Mark, can sing and dance – and they can be gay, too.Will thinks he can get through the eight weeks of the musical by staying in hisbubble and not feeling anything. This technique has worked for the six monthssince his dad died (a fact that is revealed later in the book), but Will finds outthat suppressing his grief and his emotions can’t work forever. Things come to ahead just as the performances are about to start.Laugh-out-loud funny on one page, painful and sad on the next, Will isguaranteed to grab your attention and not let go.